IPL is one of the best leagues in world cricket and its fan following and stardom increasing with each passing day. Over the years 50 cricketers have been named captain in IPL but who is the best captain in IPL of who is the king of IPL when it comes to captaining a side? We will try to figure it out with facts and results of the past 14 seasons in the Indian Premier League.
IPL Winning Captains List
- Rohit Sharma (5 Titles)
- MS Dhoni (4 Titles)
- Gautam Gambhir (2 Titles)
- Shane Warne (1 Title)
- Adam Gilchrist (1 Title)
- David Warner (1 Title)
Most Successful Captain in IPL
When it comes to winning an IPL title Rohit Sharma seems bit ahead of others. He was appointed Mumbai Indians captain in 2013 and made them IPL winners instantly. Followed it up with 4 more titles in years to come. He had 05 IPL titles under his belt and can be rated as the best captain in IPL history.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is not far behind with 04 titles and he was the best IPL captain for a long time before Rohit takes over. Gautam Gambhir is also amongst the most successful IPL captains with 02 title wins for his team Kolkata Knight Riders.
Other IPL winning captains are Shane Warne who won the inaugural edition in 2008 for Rajasthan Royals followed by a couple of more Australian players Adam Gilchrist and David Warner who won IPL titles in 2009 and 2016 for Deccan Chargers and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively.
| No. of Titles | Captain | Team | Year |
| 5 | Rohit Sharma | Mumbai Indians | 2013,2015,2017, 2019,2020 |
| 4 | Mahendra Singh Dhoni | Chennai Super Kings | 2010,2011,2018, 2021 |
| 2 | Gautam Gambhir | Kolkata Knight Riders | 2012, 2014 |
| 1 | Shane Warne | Rajasthan Royals | 2008 |
| 1 | Adam Gilchrist | Deccan Chargers | 2009 |
| 1 | David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2016 |
Most Number of Wins in IPL as Captain
MS Dhoni of Chennai Super Kings holds the record of most wins in IPL matches as captain. He won 121 matches in IPL history. Stats prove that he is the most successful captain in IPL when it comes to winning matches.
Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir are at 2nd and 3rd Spot with 75 and 71 wins each in the same number of matches as IPL captain which is 129.
| Player | Span | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | % |
| MS Dhoni | 2008-2021 | 204 | 121 | 82 | 0 | 1 | 59.6 |
| RG Sharma | 2013-2021 | 129 | 75 | 50 | 4 | 0 | 59.68 |
| G Gambhir | 2009-2018 | 129 | 71 | 57 | 1 | 0 | 55.42 |
| V Kohli | 2011-2021 | 140 | 64 | 69 | 3 | 4 | 48.16 |
| AC Gilchrist | 2008-2013 | 74 | 35 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 47.29 |
| DA Warner | 2013-2021 | 69 | 35 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 52.17 |
Most Number of Matches in IPL as Captain
MS Dhoni is the eldest captain in IPL history and has been carrying reigns of his side since the start of IPL in 2008. He has captained 2 IPL teams in 204 matches. batter with most runs in Indian Premier League Virat Kohli is at 2nd place as he captains Royal Challengers Bangalore in 140 matches across 10 IPL seasons before leaving the captaincy.
Gautham Gambhir and Rohit Sharma are jointly placed at 3rd place in most matches as IPL captain with 129 matches each.
| Player | Span | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | % |
| MS Dhoni | 2008-2021 | 204 | 121 | 82 | 0 | 1 | 59.6 |
| V Kohli | 2011-2021 | 140 | 64 | 69 | 3 | 4 | 48.16 |
| G Gambhir | 2009-2018 | 129 | 71 | 57 | 1 | 0 | 55.42 |
| RG Sharma | 2013-2021 | 129 | 75 | 50 | 4 | 0 | 59.68 |
| AC Gilchrist | 2008-2013 | 74 | 35 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 47.29 |
| DA Warner | 2013-2021 | 69 | 35 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 52.17 |
| SK Warne | 2008-2011 | 55 | 30 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 55.45 |
| V Sehwag | 2008-2015 | 53 | 28 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 53.77 |
| SR Tendulkar | 2008-2011 | 51 | 30 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 58.82 |
| R Dravid | 2008-2013 | 48 | 22 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 45.83 |
Best Captain in IPL – Win %
3 IPL captains are having a winning percentage of 59 throughout their tenure as IPL captains. However, Rohit Sharma is again edged past the MS Dhoni and Steve Smith by a minute margin.
Rohit Sharma is the most successful Indian captain in Indian Premier League history when it comes to the winning % ratio. Followed by Dhoni, Smith, Tendulkar, and Warne in the top 5 list respectively.
| Player | Span | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | % |
| RG Sharma | 2013-2021 | 129 | 75 | 50 | 4 | 0 | 59.68 |
| MS Dhoni | 2008-2021 | 204 | 121 | 82 | 0 | 1 | 59.6 |
| SPD Smith | 2012-2020 | 43 | 25 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 59.52 |
| SR Tendulkar | 2008-2011 | 51 | 30 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 58.82 |
| SK Warne | 2008-2011 | 55 | 30 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 55.45 |
| G Gambhir | 2009-2018 | 129 | 71 | 57 | 1 | 0 | 55.42 |
| V Sehwag | 2008-2015 | 53 | 28 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 53.77 |
| SS Iyer | 2018-2020 | 41 | 21 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 53.65 |
| DA Warner | 2013-2021 | 69 | 35 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 52.17 |
| KD Karthik | 2010-2020 | 43 | 21 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 50 |
| Yuvraj Singh | 2008-2011 | 43 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 50 |
| V Kohli | 2011-2021 | 140 | 64 | 69 | 3 | 4 | 48.16 |
| AC Gilchrist | 2008-2013 | 74 | 35 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 47.29 |
| R Dravid | 2008-2013 | 48 | 22 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 45.83 |
| SC Ganguly | 2008-2012 | 42 | 17 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 40.47 |
| KC Sangakkara | 2010-2013 | 47 | 15 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 34.04 |
